Latch



A. H. JONES.

(No Model.)

LATCH.

Patented June 19', 1888;

N. PETERS. PMe-Uthagnpher, Washlnglnn, D. C.

AUGUSTUS H. Jones, on Maureen, ConnECrrCUr.

:LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,852, dated June 19, 1888.

Application filed October 31, 1887. Serial No. 253,810. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS H. JONES, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Latches; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a front View of the latch as applied to the door; Fig.2, a top View of the same; Fig. 3, the blank for the bar before transverse bending; Fig. 4., an edge view of the bar after transverse bending; Fig. 5, a modification in the bend; Fig. 6, a modification in the guide.

This invention relates to a latch for small doors-such as wash-stands, commodes, cupboards, &c.--the object being to construct the latch-bar in a single piece, which will form both a spring and latch to automatically en gage the keeper upon the closing of the door, and also as a handle by which the latch may be raised and serve as a pull to open the door, and also to make the latch of the cheapest possible construction, yet durable and tasteful in appearance; and it consists in a latchbar made from a' strip of elastic metal, one end terminating in the nose of the latch and the other end adapted to be rigidly secured, combined with a guide near the nose end, the said latch-bar being bent transversely of its length between its point of attachment and the guide, as hereinafter described.

The latch-bar is best out from a strip of sheet metal, as seen in Fig. 3, terminating at one end in a nose, on, and at the opposite end pierced, as at b, for the introduction of screws. Near the nose end a transverse slot, d, is formed, through which a screw may be introduced to serveas a guide. The length of the strip is considerably greater than the length of latch required between its point of attachment and the nose end. Then between the attaching end and the nose end the strip is bent transversely, may be into substantially semicircular shape, as seen in Fig. 4.

and then through the slot da screw, f, is introduced, the head of which will simply bear upon the surface of the latch, but allow it to be raised, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Because of the bend in the 1atch-bar between its points of connection through the door, which throws that portion of the bar out of the plane of the points of attachment, the latch-bar is made elastic transversely-that is, vertically-so that it may be readily raised at its nose end and the elasticity cause it to return when free; hence the latch forms an automatic spring to ride over and fall into the notch of the keeper when applied. The keeper 9 may be simply an oval-headed screw, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, the oval shape of the head presenting a sufficient incline to permit the nose of the latch to ride upward as the door is closed, and so that when the door is closed the latch will drop back of the head, as represented or in place of the screw 1 any of the many known styles of keepers may be employed.

Instead of the semicircular bend, as represented in Fig. 4., it will be evident that the transverse bend may be made in anydesirable shape say as seen in Fig. 5it only being essential that there shall be such transverse bends in the latch as will permit the vertical elastic movement of the nose end of the latch when the other end is rigidly secured to the door.

The surface of the latch-bar may be made highly ornamental, and so as to produce a neat and tasteful appearance. The bend in the bar serves as a handle by which to raise the latch, and also as a pull by'which to open the door.

I claimtachment'and the guide and out of the plane The hereindescribed latch, consisting of a of the nose of the latch and the point of atbar made from elastic metal adapted at one tachment, substantially as described.

end for rigid attachment, the other end (3011- AUGUSTUS H. JONES. 5 structed to form the nose of the latch, com- W'itnesses:

bined with a guide at the nose end, the latch E. A. MERRIMA'N,

bar bent transversely between its point of at "WILLIS I. FENN. 

